Bicycle Love Response

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Bicycle Love," and in my opinion the theme of Goodspeed's piece was that by persevering through difficult circumstances, one can gain a better understanding and appreciation of the world around them, and perhaps of his or herself. If Goodspeed had done what her mother had suggested and gone to France with "one of those touring groups" (141), she might have had a pleasant experience, but might not have been forced to prove to herself that she was capable of handling a difficult situation, and she might not have had as exciting of an experience as she did biking through France. I found that Goodspeed showed the appreciation she garnered for her experience in France by providing the reader with specific details about her trip. She mentions that "Rabbits darted in front of me on the long, smooth roads that cut across endless cornfields" (143). By incorporating tiny details like those of the rabbits and smooth roads, Goodspeed shows that she really took the time to appreciate every moment of her trip, something she might not have had the opportunity to do if she had taken a more conventional, or perhaps "easier" trip through France. Another example of Goodspeed's language I found effective was the fact that she did not translate the conversations she had with people in French into English. The choice to keep the dialogue in French really shows how immersed Goodspeed was in the French culture, and in turn immerses the reader in Goodspeed's journey. Overall, I felt that "Bicycle Love" was an incredibly compelling piece of travel writing.